Zion National Park
Cliffs, slot canyons, and dizzying views: This park has them all. Two classic Zion experiences: hiking Angels Landing and wading the Virgin River Narrows.
Free Utah Parks Trip Planner
Request your free trip planner and newsletter today. It's everything you need to plan a Utah vacation including the top things to do in 6 national parks.
Utah National Parks and Recreation Areas
Bryce Canyon National Park
Famous for its weird and wonderful hoodoos—bulbous rock pillars—this southwestern Utah park also offers hiking, horseback riding, camping, and stargazing.
Arches National Park
Marvel at more than 2,000 natural rock arches at this park just outside of Moab. Some can be spotted from the road, but the best require a scenic hike.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is full of canyons, mesas, and buttes. But you won't find crowds here. It's Utah's least visited park even though it's the largest
Capitol Reef National Park
This national park preserves the 100-mile-long Waterpocket Fold (a “wrinkle” in the earth’s crust), a Mormon frontier settlement, and vast wilderness.
Neighboring Parks
From the Flaming Gorge in the north to Monument Valley in the south, Utah is filled with parks and recreation areas for you to enjoy.
What to Pack for Utah National Park Vacations
How do you pack for your desert climate that includes river hiking and rafting? Here are the top 15 items to put in your backpack.
2019 National Park Photography Workshops
National Park Trips Media and Tamron have teamed up to offer Photo Workshops inside your favorite national parks.
Win Trips and Gear
Are you feeling lucky? Enter to win free gear and trips. Here are our current contests. Also see stories and photos from our contest winners.
Where are the parks and recreation areas in Utah?
Utah's five national parks are all located in the southern part of the state and are often added on to a Grand Canyon vacation because of their proximity to Arizona. Winter sports resorts and parks are located in the center and northern regions of Utah with Brian Head and Snowbird being popular destinations. The northeastern section of Utah is famous for dinosaur fossils and the Flaming Gorge, a beautiful water sports and fishing area.
How should I get to Utah's parks?
Most people drive. Check out our road trip ideas. There are a few major airports within a day’s drive of the parks including Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Once you get to the parks, you will need a car or tour transportation to get around. Zion National Park has a shuttle that runs in the Valley. If you are entering Zion from the east, you need to be aware of the restrictions for the Mount Carmel Tunnel.
5 Best Road Trips
Find an exciting scenic route to the parks when you follow one of these itineraries. We show you the best starting points and points of interest on the way.
Airports Near Utah National Parks and Rec Areas
The closest airports and their distances from Zion, Bryce, Arches and other Utah Parks.
Shuttle Buses in Zion National Park
Information and tips on how to best utilize Zion's free shuttle system. Watch the video.
Will You Fit Through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel in Zion National Park?
A 1.1 mile-long tunnel is credited with converting Zion from an isolated and rarely visited park, to one of the most popular national parks
Where should I stay on my Utah vacation?
Zion and Bryce Canyon each have one lodge inside the park. However, all parks have campgrounds. There are a plethora of lodging options near the park entrances and in gateway towns including cabins, campgrounds, resorts, and hotels.
Hotels and Cabins
Only two of the five Utah national parks have hotels or cabins inside the park, but your can find a variety of lodging in gateway communities right outside the park boundaries.
Camping and RV Parks
Spend time camping on your Utah National Park vacation at one of the many area campgrounds.
What is there to see in Utah's national parks?
Top 3 Vistas in Zion National Park
Get the best views in this red-rock paradise in southwestern Utah. If you want to feel on top of the world, here are three fantastic Zion hikes that offer incredible vistas.
What are Hoodoos?
The word "hoodoo" means to bewitch, which is what Bryce Canyon's rock formations surely do.
Natural Rock Arches in Arches National Park
The largest concentration of natural arches in the world. Marvel at more than 2,000 natural rock arches at this park just outside of Moab.
4 Districts of Canyonlands National Park
Explore the Needles, Island in the Sky, the Maze, and the Rivers of Canyonlands National Park. Also see two fascinating spots nearby.
![Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef National Park. Photo by John Fowler [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://www.myutahparks.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTQ4MzM1NjgyMjUxNzI4NjI4/capitol-reef-cassidy-arch_wikijohnfowler_680.jpg)
4 Things to See at Capitol Reef National Park
The best viewpoints, trails, and attractions in this under-the-radar park.
What is there to do in Utah?
Hiking through slot canyons and up rock formations, mountain biking over slickrock, 4-wheel scenic drives, and wildlife watching (especially for bighorn and birds) are the main activities. See our list of the top ten things to do in the parks and beyond.
Hiking Trails
Utah offers hikers and backpackers an exceptional variety of lovely trails that meander across rivers and streams, and pass by striking waterfalls & arches
Outdoor Recreation
From hiking to fishing to winter sports, there are plenty of activities for the outdoor enthusiast in Zion National Park.
Attractions
Utah has many museums, zoos, movie sets, and historic sites to visit on your national park vacation
Vacation Itineraries
Looking for ideas for a Utah vacation? Here you'll suggestions for Utah's five national parks along with some of Utah's leisure towns and cities.
10 Top Things to Do in Utah Parks
Be sure to hit one, or all, of the Top 10 Things to do and see in Utah Parks. There’s slot canyons, arches, museums, dinosaurs and more.
What's New
2019 National Park Photography Workshops
National Park Trips Media and Tamron have teamed up to offer Photo Workshops inside your favorite national parks.
Utah Parks and Grand Canyon Loop Road Trip
Hit all five national parks in Utah, the Grand Canyon in Arizona plus off-trail adventures in Salt Lake City, Moab, Lake Powell, Four Corners and Kanab on this 1,302-mile trip.
Calendar of Free Entrance Days to National Parks
Parks that usually charge an entrance fee will be free on several days during the year. Check our list of dates for this year.
3 Top Places to Shoot in Zion National Park
At peak season, it can be tricky to move through the crowds in Zion. Plan ahead with these location suggestions from pro photographer Ken Hubbard.
Vernal, UT - Dinosaurland
Dinosaurland and Vernal, Utah, is the only place in the world where you can view and even touch more than 1,500 dinosaur bones all in their original resting places
Canyon Country Discovery Center
Hands-on educational experiences about the Colorado Plateau through interactive learning exhibits, and field trips.
7 Unusual Places to Stay Near Zion National Park
Don’t let your trip sound just like your neighbors’ vacation. Set it apart by staying at some of the fantastic and unusual lodging options along the way.